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POLITICO 44

Palin announced in mid-May that she was backing former NFL Player Clint Didier for the Senate seat, and while her stamp of approval has proven monumental for some Republican candidates this cycle, polls show Didier trailing Murray and Rossi.

Rossi is touting the endorsements of several conservative leaders in his campaign leading up to next week’s primary against his Republican opponents, including Didier and manufacturer Paul Akers.

Rossi announced in late July that he had the backing of Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), who has successfully endorsed insurgent conservatives against GOP establishment-backed Senate candidates. The political action committees for former House Majority Leader Dick Armey’s organization, FreedomWorks, and the Family Research Council also announced they were backing Rossi last month.

Public polls show Rossi and Murray to be the frontrunners in the “top two” primary, after which the top two vote-getters — regardless of party — will advance to the general election. A recent Public Policy Polling survey showed a highly competitive race, with Murray leading Rossi by a slim 3-percentage-point margin, 49 percent to 46 percent.